Gores indicted by Gloucester grand jury

Becky Lee West also indicted in murder-for-hire plot

GLOUCESTER — A grand jury issued indictments Monday accusing Brian and Shannon Gore of felony counts of child neglect and aggravated malicious wounding in the treatment of a daughter found last year living in a modified cage.

Commonwealth's Attorney Holly Smith said the grand jury issued "true bills" on the indictments that accuse the couple of mistreating and severely neglecting a daughter who is now 7 and in the care of a foster family. During the course of an investigation of stolen gold bullion, Gloucester Sheriff's deputies and investigators entered the Gores' residence on April 28.

While searching the single-wide trailer, an investigator entered a darkened bedroom and found an emaciated, naked girl covered in her own feces living in a cage that was a modified, upside-down crib with boards and a box atop it to ensure the girl couldn't escape.

The following day, Gloucester Sheriff's investigators returned to the Gore residence and unearthed a pine box beneath a shed in the Gores' back yard. Inside were the remains of an infant boy.

Charges related to the death of the infant boy were not presented to the grand jury.

A conviction on a felony aggravated malicious wounding count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. A felony child neglect conviction carries a maximum 10-year sentence.

Brian Gore and Shannon Gore are being held in Norfolk City Jail. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for March 13.

The grand jury also issued indictments on five counts of solicitation to commit murder against Becky Lee West. She is accused of plotting to kill five people, including two victims of a violent home invasion robbery committed by her brother in December 2010.

West has been portrayed in court documents as intent on ensuring no one would be able to testify against her brother, Joseph Lee Belvin, prior to his trial. West allegedly sought the assistance of Gloucester resident Tracy Simmons in killing five witnesses to her brother's robbery, including the elderly couple who were victims and the woman who drove Belvin to the neighborhood where the crime was committed.

West used her mother's bingo winnings to buy a handgun and hide it in an abandoned house for Simmons to use in the slayings, according to court documents. West also told Simmons to dump the bodies on a well on the property where she hid the handgun, according to court documents.

Belvin, 26, was sentenced in August to serve 64 years in prison for the Dec. 2010 attempted robbery.